Worm Snake

Carphophis amoenus

Worm Snake

EWSN

Status

The Worm Snake is generally uncommon, but it can be locally common at specific locations.

Description

The Worm Snake is one of the smallest (19–33 cm) snakes in the United States. The dorsum is shiny brown, and the venter is a translucent pink. The head is pointed and the eyes are quite small. This snake, as the common name indicates, resembles an earthworm in form and external coloration. Two subspecies are recognized: amoenus and helenae.

Distribution

The Worm Snake ranges from New England south to middle Georgia, and westward to eastern Louisiana, Mississippi and eastern Arkansas.

Habitat

The Worm Snake is a very secretive, fossorial snake which is usually encountered underground or under logs, leaves, stumps, rocks or other surface debris. Optimum habitats are mesic hardwoods with abundant leaf litter and humus (Mount 1975).

Special Requirements

This snake requires abundant humus and leaf litter in which to burrow and forage.

Breeding Habits

Little is known about the courtship and mating habits of the Worm Snake. It is an oviparous species, laying two to eight eggs in logs or sawdust piles during the summer. Young hatch in late summer or early fall.

Food Habits

The diet is comprised primarily of earthworms, but includes insects and slugs.

Management Suggestions

Mature mesic hardwood areas with abundant leaf litter and humus provide habitat for this species. Management practices which destroy this microhabitat are detrimental to the species.

Additional References

Barbour and others 1969; Martof and others 1980.